Self-rising swimming pool construction

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a self-rising swimming pool employing side walls sufficiently translucent to allow those outside the swimming pool to monitor the underwater activities of the pool&#39;s occupants, as well as to allow more efficient solar beating of the water contained in the swimming pool, compared to swimming pools constructed with totally opaque walls.  
     In one embodiment, a self-rising swimming pool may comprise an inflatable toroidal top member, a base member, and a flexible wall attached to the top member and attached to the base member, the flexible wall and base member together defining an interior region into which water may be introduced, and at least a portion of the flexible wall is sufficiently translucent to permit observation of the pool&#39;s occupants.  
     In another embodiment, at least a portion of the flexible wall may be comprised of a layer of mesh interposed between a two layers of translucent polyvinyl chloride.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/398,461 filed Jul. 25, 2002, and incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Self-rising above-ground swimming pools are commonly constructedof a flexible bottom, a flexible wall attached to the bottom, and aninflatable toroidal tube attached to the top of the wall to define theopening of the pool. The process of~filling the pool entails spreadingout the bottom and the side wall on the ground, positioning theinflatable tube so that it lies above them, and then inflating the tube.Water is then introduced within the opening defined by the innercircumference of the tube so that, as the water rises, the pool wallbulges outwardly beyond the perimeter of the annular tube, and the tubeis supported by the rising water. Pool manufacturers heretofore haveconstructed the pool wall from a relatively thick layer or layers ofopaque polymer material, compared to conventional inflatable pools, toprovide the strength necessary to withstand the outwardly-directedhydraulic pressure generated by the water in the pool. However, withsuch pools, the occupants of the pool cannot be fully seen by thoseoutside the pool, since the opacity of the pool side wall at leastpartially hides the occupants from view. In addition, the opaque sidewalls of the pool may hinder the sun's rays from most efficientlywarming the water contained in the pool.

SUMMARY

[0003] Disclosed herein are self-rising swimming pool constructionsemploying side walls sufficiently translucent to allow those outside theswimming pool to monitor the underwater activities of the swimmingpool's occupants. Translucent side walls have the additional benefit ofallowing more efficient solar heating of the water contained in theswimming pool, compared to swimming pools constructed with totallyopaque side walls.

[0004] In one exemplary embodiment, a self-rising swimming pool maycomprise an inflatable toroidal top member, a base member, and aflexible wall attached to the top member and attached to the basemember, the flexible wall and base member together defining an interiorregion into which water may be introduced, and at least a portion of theflexible wall being sufficiently translucent to permit observation ofthe underwater activities of the occupants of the swimming pool.

[0005] In another exemplary embodiment, a self-rising swimming pool maycomprise an inflatable toroidal top member, a base member, and aflexible wall attached to the base member at a base seam and attached tothe top member at the underside of the top member, defining an interiorregion for receiving water, at least a portion of the flexible wallbeing comprised of a layer of mesh interposed between a first layer oftranslucent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and a second layer of translucentPVC.

[0006] In a further exemplary embodiment, a self-rising swimming poolmay comprise a flexible wall, at least a portion of which is comprisedof a layer of mesh interposed between a first layer of translucent PVCand a second layer of translucent PVC, an inflatable toroidal topmember, the top member having a first flexible flap and a secondflexible flap extending downward from its underside , the first flexibleflap of the top member being affixed to an inner surface of the flexiblewall, and the second flexible flap of the top member being affixed to anouter surface of the flexible wall, and a base member affixed to theflexible wall at a base seam, defining an interior region for receivingwater.

[0007] In a further exemplary embodiment, a self-rising swimming poolmay further comprise a removably attachable flexible translucent cover.In one exemplary embodiment, the cover may be removably attachable tothe top member. Alternatively, the cover may be removably attachable tothe side wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] These and other features and advantages of the self-risingswimming pools disclosed herein will be more fully understood byreference to the following detailed description, in conjunction with theattached drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements through the different views. The drawings illustrate principlesof the apparatus disclosed herein, and are not to scale.

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of aself-rising swimming pool, showing the swimming pool in an upright orfilled condition;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the swimming poolof FIG. 1, illustrating the attachment of the top member to the flexiblewall and of the flexible wall to the base member;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible wall of theswimming pool at the location of a seam;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of theswimming pool;

[0013]FIG. 5 illustrates schematically an exemplary three-layerconstruction of the swimming pool's flexible side wall or side wallpanels, or flexible translucent cover; and

[0014]FIG. 6 illustrates schematically an embodiment of the swimmingpool including a cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0015] To provide an overall understanding, certain illustrativeembodiments will now be described; however, it will be understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art that the devices and methods describedherein can be adapted and modified to provide devices and methods forother suitable applications and that other additions and modificationscan be made without departing from the scope of the systems describedherein.

[0016] Unless otherwise specified, the illustrated embodiments can beunderstood as providing exemplary features of varying detail of certainembodiments, and therefore, unless otherwise specified, features,components, modules, and/or aspects of the illustrations can beotherwise combined, specified, interchanged, and/or rearranged withoutdeparting from the disclosed devices or methods. Additionally, theshapes and sizes of components are also exemplary, and unless otherwisespecified, can be altered without affecting the disclosed devices ormethods.

[0017] FIGS. 1-5 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a self-risingswimming pool. The swimming pool features an inflatable toroidal topmember 10, which may be constructed of a flexible polymer, such as, forexample, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), other vinyl or plastic, natural orsynthetic rubber or latex, or other suitable materials used in theconstruction of inflatable and self-rising swimming pools. Affixed tothe underside of the top member 10 is a flexible wall 12. The flexiblewall 12 is in turn affixed to a base member 30, as best illustrated inFIG. 2. The flexible wall 12 and base member 30 together define aninterior region 20 of the swimming pool, into which water may beintroduced. As the interior region 20 is filled, the inflatable topmember 10 floats atop the accumulating water, and raises the flexiblewall 12 into the approximately upright position shown in FIG. 1.

[0018] In the exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the flexiblewall 12 is made of material sufficiently translucent to allow thoseoutside the pool to monitor the underwater activities of the swimmingpool's occupants, enhancing the safety of the swimming pool. Inaddition, the use of a flexible wall 12 at least a portion of which istranslucent enhances the efficiency of solar heating of the watercontained in the pool, compared to a pool with an entirely opaqueflexible wall.

[0019] In some embodiments, the translucent portion of the flexible wall12 may have a multi-layer construction, such as, for example, thethree-layer construction illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 5A illustrates aschematic cutaway view of the three-layer construction, and FIG. 5B is aschematic cross-sectional view of the three-layer construction. Thethree-layer construction illustrated includes a layer of mesh 42interposed between two layers 40 of a translucent flexible polymer, suchas, for example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), other vinyl or plastic,natural or synthetic rubber or latex, or other suitable materials usedin the construction of inflatable and self-rising swimming pools. Themesh 42 may be a monofilament mesh, or constructed of bundled threadswoven into mesh form, and may be constructed of polyester,polypropylene, or other polymer, as well as cotton fiber, or othernatural or synthetic materials suitable for molding or weaving into meshform. In an exemplary embodiment, the mesh layer is constructed of finepolyester fibers bundled into threads approximately 1 mm in thickness,woven into a mesh of a density approximately 36 squares per square inch.The polymer layers 40 are water resistant and nonporous, and inhibitwater from leaking through the wall of the swimming pool. The mesh layer42 enhances the tensile strength of the flexible wall 12, increasing thedurability of the structure and allowing larger swimming pools to beconstructed, compared to flexible walls made without a reinforcing meshlayer.

[0020] The polymer material of which the flexible wall 12 is constructedmay be formed using any of the processes known in the art for formingflexible polymer sheets, including but not limited to calendaring,lamination, pressing, molding, extrusion, or a spray coating processemploying a liquid form of the polymer. In embodiments employing thethree-layer construction of FIG. 5, the three-layer flexible wallmaterial may be manufactured using any of the above processes, includinga hot lamination or a cold lamination procedure to bind the layers ofpolymer and mesh together.

[0021] In the exemplary embodiment, the hot lamination procedure employsan arrangement of rolls containing translucent PVC stock and mesh stock.The rolls containing the PVC stock may be heated to soften the PVC. Thestock is then fed off the rolls, into rollers or other compressionmeans, in such a manner that the mesh layer is interposed between thetwo PVC layers. The three layers are then compressed together in therollers or other compression means so that the each PVC layer bonds tothe mesh and to the other PVC layer in the interstices of the mesh.Referring to the schematic illustration of FIG. 5, during this processthe interstices of the mesh 42 are substantially filled by the PVC. Inone embodiment, the mesh may be precoated with PVC to improve bondingwith the outer layers and inhibit shredding of the mesh. In a variationof this procedure, the mesh layer may first be hot laminated to onelayer of PVC, and the second layer of PVC, in liquid form, may then besprayed, poured, or otherwise made to coat the mesh layer, solidifyingas it cools. In the cold lamination procedure, at least one of the PVClayers is first coated with adhesive, and the three layers are thenpressed through rollers or other compression means to bind them, withoutheating. The total thickness t of the three-layer materials as showingin FIG. 5 may vary from about 0.55 mm to about 0.75 mm or more.

[0022] The thickness of the flexible wall 12 may be chosen with regardto the water capacity of the swimming pool, as larger pools may requirethicker walls to resist the force exerted radially outward by the wateron the walls. In some embodiments, a wall thickness t of 0.55 mm may beused for pools accommodating at least about 286 gallons of water whenfilled to 80% capacity. A wall thickness t of 0.60 mm may be used forpools accommodating at least about 939 gallons of water when filled to80% capacity. In addition, a wall thickness t of 0.65 mm may be used forpools accommodating at least about 1,759 gallons of water when filled to80% capacity; a wall thickness t of 0.70 mm may be used for poolsaccommodating at least about 3,712 gallons of water when filled to 80%capacity; and a wall thickness t of 0.75 mm may be used for poolsaccommodating at least about 5,634 gallons of water when filled to 80%capacity.

[0023] The flexible wall 12 may be comprised of multiple panels 14, asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The panels may be bound at seams 16, usingsimilar lamination methods to those described above. Alternatively, thepanels may be bound together with adhesive. In some embodiments,including the embodiment shown in cross section in FIG. 2, a base member30 is affixed to the flexible wall 12 by a similar seam, base seam 32.

[0024] Also illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a reinforcing band 18, whichmay be added in certain embodiments to increase the strength of theflexible wall 12. The reinforcing band 18 may be particularly useful inlarger embodiments of the swimming pool, where the force exertedradially outward upon the wall by the water in the pool is increased.

[0025] The height of the flexible wall 12 may vary depending upon thesize of swimming pool desired. In some exemplary embodiments, the lengthof the flexible wall 12, measured from the base seam 32 to the undersideof the top member 10 may be between at least about 17.5 inches and atleast about 44 inches.

[0026] In some embodiments, a filtration pump may be employed to keepthe water in the swimming pool clean during use and/or between uses. Theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a pump outlet 22 where waterexits the swimming pool and flows to the pump, and a pump inlet 24 wherethe filtered water returns to the swimming pool.

[0027] The cross sectional view of the swimming pool of FIG. 2 alsoillustrates other features of some embodiments of the swimming pool. Inthe embodiment pictured in FIG. 2, the toroidal top member 10 has twoflexible flaps 34 extending downward from its underside. As illustratedin FIG. 2, one of the flexible flaps 34 is affixed to the inner surfaceof the flexible wall 12, while the other flexible flap 34 is affixed tothe outer surface of the flexible wall 12. In some embodiments, asillustrated in FIG. 2, the flexible flaps 34 and the toroidal top member10 are formed from a single piece of material rolled into an approximatecylinder comprising the top member 10, with excess material comprisingthe flexible flaps 34. In other embodiments, the flexible flaps 34 maybe formed from separate pieces of polymer or other suitable material andbonded to the toroidal top member 10. The flexible flaps 34, like thetoroidal top member 10, may be constructed of flexible polymer, such as,for example, PVC, other vinyl or plastic, natural or synthetic rubber orlatex, or other suitable materials used in the construction ofinflatable and self-rising swimming pools. However constructed, the useof two flexible flaps 34, one bonded to each of the inner and outersurfaces of the flexible wall 12, enhances the strength and durabilityof the swimming pool.

[0028] In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the inflatabletoroidal top member 10 may be inflated and sealed using an air valve 26.The air valve 26 may be the Air Valve for an Inflatable Device describedin U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,711, or the Air Valve for an Inflatable Devicedescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,143, the contents of which patents areherein incorporated by reference, or another suitable air valve.

[0029] In some embodiments, a swimming pool cover may be employed tocover the filled swimming pool when the pool is not in use, to preventdirt, debris, pets, children, or other items from falling into thewater. At least a portion of the swimming pool cover may, in oneembodiment, be constructed of a translucent polymer material, to furtherenhance the efficiency of solar heating of the water in the swimmingpool, compared to an entirely opaque swimming pool cover. The swimmingpool cover may be constructed of flexible polymer, such as, for example,polyvinyl chloride PVC, other vinyl or plastic, natural or syntheticrubber or latex, or other suitable materials used in the construction ofinflatable and self-rising swimming pools. The material used toconstruct the swimming pool cover may be the same as or different fromthe material used to construct the toroidal top member 10.Alternatively, the three-layer construction described above for theflexible wall 12 may also be used to construct the swimming pool cover.

[0030] An exemplary embodiment of a swimming pool including a cover isillustrated schematically in FIG. 6. The cover 50 may be constructed ofa sheet of a suitable material cut into a circle large enough to fitover the outer circumference of the inflatable top member 10. The covermay be lowered over the filled swimming pool as illustratedschematically by arrows 52.

[0031] In some embodiments, the cover may be removably attachable to thetop member or side wall of the swimming pool, to prevent the cover fromblowing off in the wind, while allowing quick removal when use of thepool is desired. Means for removably attaching the swimming pool covermay include a plurality of buttons, pegs, or similar attachments spacedalong the side wall 12 of the swimming pool, which mate with a pluralityof corresponding loops affixed to the lower edge of the cover 50.Alternatively, the cover may be removably attached to the pool by meansof snaps. A plurality of snap sockets may be placed on flaps spacedaround the circumference of the side wall 12, and made to mate withcorresponding snap studs on flaps affixed to the lower edge of the cover50. It will be understood that the placement of the sockets and studsmay be reversed so that the sockets are on the flaps on the cover 50,while the studs are on the flaps on the side wall 12.

[0032] Alternatively, a hook-and-loop type closure may be used toremovably secure the cover 50. In such an embodiment, fabric comprisingthe loop portion of a hook-and-loop closure may be affixed to the sidewall 12, either placed in discrete spots around the circumference of theside wall 12, or forming a continuous band around it. Flaps comprisingthe hook portion of the hook-and-loop closure may be affixed to thelower edge of the cover 50 to mate with the corresponding loop portionon the side wall 12. It will be understood that the placement of thehook and loop portions may be reversed, so that the hook portion of thehook-and-loop closure is on the side wall 12, while the loop portion ison the flaps attached to the cover 50.

[0033] In still another embodiment, the cover may be removably attachedto the swimming pool by means of a draw string sewn into the lower edgeof the cover 50. Tightening such a string would cause the edge of thecover 50 to cinch around the inflatable top member 10, gripping itsecurely but removably. Alternatively, the cover 50 can be made toremovably grip the top member 10 by means of an elastic strip embeddedin the lower edge of the cover 50, similarly to the way a fitted sheetgrips a mattress.

What is claimed is:
 1. A self-rising swimming pool comprising aninflatable toroidal top member; a base member; and a flexible wallattached to the top member and attached to the base member, the flexiblewall and base member together defining an interior region into whichwater may be introduced, and at least a portion of the flexible wallbeing sufficiently translucent to permit observation of the underwateractivities of the occupants of the swimming pool.
 2. A self-risingswimming pool as in claim 1, wherein the translucent portion of theflexible wall is constructed of a first layer of translucent PVC, alayer of mesh, and a second layer of translucent PVC, the layer of meshbeing interposed between the first layer of PVC and the second layer ofPVC.
 3. A self-rising swimming pool as in claim 2, wherein the layer ofmesh is constructed of polyester.
 4. A self-rising swimming pool as inclaim 1, wherein the flexible wall has an inner surface facing theinterior region, and an outer surface facing away from the interiorregion; the top member further comprises a first flexible flap and asecond flexible flap extending downward from the underside of the topmember; and the first flap is attached to the outer surface of the sidewall member, and the second flap is attached to the inner surface of theside wall member.
 5. A self-rising swimming pool as in claim 4, whereinthe interior region is at least large enough to contain at least about286 gallons when the swimming pool is filled to 80% capacity.
 6. Aself-rising swimming pool as in claim 5, wherein the interior region isat least large enough to contain at least about 939 gallons when theswimming pool is filled to 80% capacity.
 7. A self-rising swimming poolas in claim 6, wherein the interior region is at least large enough tocontain at least about 1,759 gallons when the swimming pool is filled to80% capacity.
 8. A self-rising swimming pool as in claim 7, wherein theinterior region is at least large enough to contain at least about 5,634gallons when the swimming pool is filled to 80% capacity.
 9. Aself-rising swimming pool as in claim 4, wherein the thickness of theflexible wall is at least about 0.55 mm.
 10. A self-rising swimming poolas in claim 9, wherein the thickness of the flexible wall is at leastabout 0.65 mm.
 11. A self-rising swimming pool as in claim 10, whereinthe thickness of the flexible wall is at least about 0.70 mm.
 12. Aself-rising swimming pool as in claim 11, wherein the thickness of theflexible wall is at least about 0.75 mm.
 13. A self-rising swimming poolas in claim 1, further comprising a flexible translucent cover, whereinthe cover is removably attachable to the flexible wall.
 14. Aself-rising swimming pool as in claim 13, wherein at least a portion ofthe flexible translucent cover is comprised of a layer of meshinterposed between a first layer of translucent PVC and a second layerof translucent PVC.
 15. A self-rising swimming pool as in claim 1,further comprising a flexible translucent cover, wherein the cover isremovably attachable to the top member.
 16. A self-rising swimming poolas in claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the flexible translucentcover is comprised of a layer of mesh interposed between a first layerof translucent PVC and a second layer of translucent PVC.
 17. Aself-rising swimming pool comprising an inflatable toroidal top member;a base member; and a flexible wall attached to the base member at a baseseam, and attached to the top member at the underside of the top member,defining an interior region for receiving water, at least a portion ofthe flexible wall being comprised of a layer of mesh interposed betweena first layer of translucent PVC and a second layer of translucent PVC.18. A self-rising swimming pool as in claim 17, wherein the length ofthe flexible wall, measured from the base seam to the underside of thetop member, is at least about 17.5 inches.
 19. A self-rising swimmingpool as in claim 18, wherein the length of the flexible wall, measuredfrom the base seam to the underside of the top member, is at least about23.5 inches.
 20. A self-rising swimming pool as in claim 19, wherein thelength of the flexible wall, measured from the base seam to theunderside of the top member, is at least about 32 inches.
 21. Aself-rising swimming pool as in claim 20, wherein the length of theflexible wall, measured from the base seam to the underside of the topmember, is at least about 44 inches.
 22. A self-rising swimming pool asin claim 17, further comprising a flexible translucent cover, whereinthe cover is removably attachable to the flexible wall.
 23. Aself-rising swimming pool as in claim 17, further comprising a flexibletranslucent cover, wherein the cover is removably attachable to the topmember.
 24. A self-rising swimming pool comprising: a flexible wall, atleast a portion of which is sufficiently translucent to permitobservation of the occupants of the swimming pool; an inflatabletoroidal top member affixed to a top edge of the flexible wall; a basemember, affixed to the flexible wall at a base seam, defining aninterior region for receiving water; and a removably attachable flexibletranslucent cover.
 25. A self-rising swimming pool comprising: aflexible wall, at least a portion of which is comprised of a layer ofmesh interposed between a first layer of translucent PVC and a secondlayer of translucent PVC; an inflatable toroidal top member, having afirst flexible flap and a second flexible flap extending downward fromthe underside of the top member, the first flexible flap of the topmember being affixed to an inner surface of the flexible wall, and thesecond flexible flap of the top member being affixed to an outer surfaceof the flexible wall; and a base member, affixed to the flexible wall ata base seam, defining an interior region for receiving water.
 26. Aself-rising swimming pool as in claim 25, further comprising a flexibletranslucent cover, wherein the cover is removably attachable to theflexible wall.
 27. A self-rising swimming pool as in claim 25, furthercomprising a flexible translucent cover, wherein the cover is removablyattachable to the top member.